Bait weights

[chedster]

Here is a tip I have been doing very well with, helps keep your bait in the zone. I know you can buy them commercially but I started making my own "bait weights" to use while fishing eggs under a float. Use slinky shot and drill them out with a 1/16" bit or smaller. I then use powder paint and finish by baking in the oven @ 350 degrees for 15 minutes to toughen them up. Pink and flame orange have been my favorite.Just slide it on your leader and bait up with a small dab of eggs or shrimp! I like a little yarn in the egg loop so it's easy to open and re bait. I had been buying them but could no longer find them so I found it easier and cheaper to make my own.

[Fast- eddy]

May want to add this to the "Tips and tutorial" section...

[chedster]

Feel free to move it. I have been making up a bunch while the rivers are blown out and figured I would share. Now if I could find slinky weights pre-drilled these would be very quick to make.

[Bank Bum]

They look yummie    What brand of paint do you use?

[Bunker]

They look legit! I don't really float bait for anything besides kings. Thats looks just like my drifts rig with a prawn tail execpt its the same colored corkie and not a weight ( 5o% of my hatchery fish are caught with this rig). I'm gonna have to manufacture a few of these and try them out. Thanks

Bunker

[chedster]

I actually first used them for kings and coho this fall and had really good luck. I made up smaller ones for steelhead and they work great. I also like using white weights with a pink worm. The paint is pro tec powder paint. It chips way to easily if you don't bake it. I heard vinyl paint is even tougher but have yet to try it.

[WaFlyCaster]

Reminder... dont bake these in the oven you plan on cooking food in!  Harmful vapors left behind.

[Todd]

I mentioned this on a different website when this topic came up...thought I'd drop it here, too...

I've used the Dedfish weights, and the Beau Mac weights...and the cost seemed a little steep, so I started painting my own.

Since I did it on the cheap, the paint would be gone before too long...and surprise, surprise...the plain old gray lead colored weights were just as effective as the colored ones.  Seems the fish were a lot more interested in the bait instead of the color of the weight sitting on top of it.

On the centerpin I don't bother with expensive painted weights, nor do I bother with painting my own anymore...I just use 1/8oz. bullet weights, or egg sinkers, with a bead between the weight and the hook.  100% no change in the amount of bites I get.

Your mileage may vary, but you might be spending too much or trying to hard...with a shrimp or bait'o'eggs on there, the fish ain't gonna care less about the weight.

Fish on...

Todd

[Fast- eddy]

Chedster,I will move it to the tips section after it runs it's course. Nice work!

I agree Todd.Some of my most productive and long lasting jigs have had little to no paint left and worked as good or better than when brand new!   But they sure look better with paint!

[Dragfreedrift]

Looks interesting.  Are there regs as to how close to your hook the weight can be?

DFD

[chedster]

The regs in Oregon allow use of weight directly above the hook as long as the gap is 5/8 inch or less. Not sure about Washington regs though.

[Finfollower]

I'm going to check the regs again about this. Good question though DFD. There are a few considerations that should be well checked to make sure this is a drama free. With the current water conditions there should be time to look them over.

[Bunker]

I don't see how it could be any different than using a jig (Regulation wise).

[Bank Bum]

Page 18 in regs.
Anti-Snagging rule Except when fishing with
a buoyant lure (with no weights added to the line
or lure), or trolling from a vessel or floating device,
terminal fi shing gear is restricted to a lure
or bait with one single-point hook. Hooks must
measure ¾ inch or less from point to shank, and
must be attached to or below the lure or bait.
Weights may not be attached below or less than
12” above the lure or bait.

[Chum Man]

again, one of those weird laws differentiating bait and lures.  i think it falls more into an honesty thing -- i have a hard time believing a game warden is going to go after someone bobber fishing with a sinker against his bait when half the other guys are snagging in a place where those rules are in effect.